Shielding vs. noiseless?

[obturate]

Hi everyone, new to the forum.I have a lefty Warmoth partscaster with fender scns in it.I also had the guitar completely shielded with copper to eliminate all noise for recording.It is completely noiseless.However, I have never been too thrilled with the scns.I am debating about two pickups; Kinman Broadcasters or Dimarzio Twang Kings.My question is; will the shielding cut down on the noise associated with the true singles or should I go for the Kinmans?I really would like to get the true sparkle and snap of singles.Thanks

[garymaddox]

Sheilding helps reduce RFI type noise from TV's, florescent lights, etc... but I don't think it can keep out the 60 HZ hum from A/C power. I am no expert so I could be wrong.

[Tele-phone man]

Shielding helps significantly. You will still have 60 cycle hum, but if you are properly shielded, you will avoid the buzzing and crackling and other higher-frequency noise that an unshielded guitar exhibits, particularly when you handle the strings.

[flanders7423]

Do I have to use copper tape or can I use aluminum (like HVAC tape)?

[Parma_TeleMon]

Both will work. I use copper. I also have a Dimarzio Area T neck pickup I'm pretty happy with.

[SackvilleDan]

You can use aluminum HVAC tape, as long as it's conductive. You should be able to tell if you have a multimeter (most of it is anyhow).

I have a set of Kinman Broadcasters in my Tele and LOVE them. They're not cheap, but they sound fantastic. And they're completely noiseless. With shielding, I've never been able to get a dead quiet guitar (and yes, I've tried the Guitar Nuts method), but these Kinmans have absolutely no hum or buzz. They're fantastic.

[Tele-phone man]

You may also consider the graphite paint from Stew-Mac, but it takes longer to do and is messy. Some say their results aren't as good as copper, either, but I have found it to be just as good. Properly executed shielding always helps to some degree.
I would stay away from the aluminum, simply because copper is so easy to obtain and work with, and you can solder to it if needed.

The choice should never be: shielding, or noiseless pickups. The answer is: shielding, always. Noiseless pickups, optional. If anyone says that shielding makes no difference, then they didn't do it correctly. And although I know this will start a fight, I'm going to say it anyway: if anyone insists that shielding ruined their tone, they're hallucinating. It doesn't happen.

[bradpdx]

Originally Posted by Tele-phone man

The choice should never be: shielding, or noiseless pickups. The answer is: shielding, always. Noiseless pickups, optional.

+1

Shielding may disappoint some folks if they were expect all the hum to go away - that won't happen. But it sure helps.

I often find the hum to be the worst issue, however. My Tele (with VanZandts) is fully shielded (paint from Stew Mac, etc.) and I still sometimes find myself in a club or even a studio with simply unbearable hum and noise, especially if I am using any extra gain.

The only bright, clear pickups I've ever had that really shut the heck up are EMGs. A different sound, but man they are quiet and consistent. Kinda fun to use them - you can feel bulletproof.